Center's dismantling not likely to have major impact locally

Local officials expect few repercussions in Southeastern N.C. from the dismantling of the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center

By Jason GonzalesJason.Gonzales@starnewsonline.com

Local officials expect few immediate repercussions in Southeastern North Carolina from the dismantling of the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center by Gov. Pat McCrory's administration. But while there is optimism, there is still worry that some active grants through the center will not be paid.Gary Lanier, director of the Columbus County Economic Development Commission, said he believes the state will pay the money because there are contracts attached to those grants."There's always some possibility that it might not happen, but I don't really think it would make a lot of sense for those contracts not to be honored," he said.Jim Bradshaw, Brunswick County Economic Development Commission director, said he believes his county will also receive its grants."My understanding is if they had gone through the process and completed the application, the county would get the grant," he said.The center had been under intense scrutiny after a state audit found a lack of adequate grant monitoring and internal financial controls at the center.The program was reassigned in the wake of the controversy to the N.C. Commerce Department. Area officials use grants from the center to help promote building reuse or build infrastructure.Brunswick County recently was awarded $44,592 to renovate a building in Supply for use by a health care staffing agency. "I am still concerned that we may lose (it)," he said.There was also some concern in Pender County about how future grants would be handed out."Hopefully, it does not put Pender at a disadvantage," said Kyle Breuer, the county planning and community development director. "We do have a lot of rural areas that need that help and that can definitely benefit."Lanier said that funds should still be available in the future, but counties will be applying through a different agency.He added that it's still a "wait and see" game."Folks get too excited too quickly about change," Lanier said. "It's best to be patient and let them work it out. And if it is really causing problems, the legislature will go back and fix it if it is a real issue."